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What's the state of UK Basketball?
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:07 pm
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:07 pm
Where does it go from here? With Nerlens Noel out for the season will any players jump to the NBA with what looks to be a mediocre season? If none of the Freshmen or Sophomores leave for the NBA does this mean a loaded UK for next year? Does anyone care to take a stab at this?
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:09 pm to TenTex
They'll have one or two more besides Noel jump to the draft. They should be loaded next year regardless of who comes back, they have another loaded class that could be on of Cal's best.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:11 pm to TenTex
They're gonna be loaded regardless with the class they are bringing in.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:11 pm to TenTex
Don't worry. We'll be the favorite to win it all again next season regardless of who stays.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:12 pm to CatFan81
quote:
We'll be the favorite to win it all again next season regardless of who stays.
Negative.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:14 pm to TenTex
We're likely NIT bound this season and I don't expect any of the guys projected in the first round to come back. But the class we have coming in may be the best class we've had under Cal so we're okay either way IMO.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:14 pm to TenTex
They're Kentucky...they'll always have a lot of talent.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:23 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
I don't expect any of the guys projected in the first round to come back.
As I stated in a previous thread I am a lifelong Cat fan. I grew up and went to college in KY but now live in LA. I honestly do not see how any of the guys on this UK team could fathom going NBA at the end of this season. I continually see UK posters stating that many of these guys are leaving after the season. You all need to step out of the Big Blue Nation and look inside. These guys are only marginally better than the competition they are facing which is the weakest rated conference in the NCAA this year. Most of the media experts are not saying anything like that down here. Noel was the only one that I saw having a chance at a decent draft status... Two of the six that left last year are sitting in the D-league and they were much better than any of the ones on the team this year. They all need to come back for next year.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:23 pm to JimMorrison
I'll take "state of shock" for $1000, Alex.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:25 pm to TenTex
shite because the Fresh Prince tore his ACL.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:28 pm to GetmorewithLes
quote:
They all need to come back for next year.
Yes, they need to, but they wont.
They're not coming back when this years draft is a weak draft and three are projected lottery picks with guaranteed money. It's just that simple. Next years draft will be much stronger than this one.
I don't live in Kentucky, so I don't need to "step out of the Big Blue Nation and look inside". It doesn't matter what the media is saying in Louisiana. Look at the draft projections. They'll tell you all you need to know.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:29 pm to trickydick12
quote:
shite because the Fresh Prince tore his ACL.
Reading comprehension isn't a strength for you, is it?
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:34 pm to GetmorewithLes
Like getmorewithless, I am an LSU fan in all sports, but I am also a rabid UK basketball fan. After watching UK play this season, I am astounded that anyone is talking about UK players as prospective first round picks. Noel is different, I suppose, given his extraordinary talent on the defensive end of the court, but even Noel is a shaky offensive player at best. But who else on this UK team has demonstrated sufficient basketball talent, sense, and maturity to lead one to think that they are NBA ready? I have watched numerous UK players go to the NBA early in the past few years. Some of then were on track to do well in the NBA and have done so. But with others I am left scratching my head, and these are the players sitting on the bench or playing D league ball. I agree with GMWL--in most cases the D-League players from UK are better than some of the current crop who are being touted as high round draft picks. If some of these guys are draftable, then the national talent pool among NCAA teams must be a lot weaker than I thought.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:37 pm to lsuprof
The NBA drafts on potential......I still can't understand why people cannot get it thru their heads. & yes, those players that are rumored to be leaving are all chalk full of it
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:41 pm to CatFan81
quote:
They're not coming back when this years draft is a weak draft and three are projected lottery picks with guaranteed money. It's just that simple. Next years draft will be much stronger than this one.
I don't blame them one bit. Hard to turn down millions when all you have to do is reach out and grab it.Even if you should come back another year because you aren't very polished.
This post was edited on 2/14/13 at 3:42 pm
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:47 pm to CatFan81
quote:
Yes, they need to, but they wont.
I agree with CatFan81's take on this. They do need to come back but most (all) of them will take the money and run. Calipari encourages his players to get to the NBA as quickly as they reasonably can.
But there is another way of looking at this. I am assuming that these guys actually want to play ball over the course of a career. I assume that they want to go to the NBA, earn starting positions, and be regular contributors and play every day. For some of these players, they are substituting great money for the prospect of actually playing basketball over the course of a career. For some of these players, an extra year or two would be the difference between (1) being drafted this year and sitting on the bench or playing D-League ball, or (2) being drafted next year or the year after and being ready to make a contribution at the NBA level. There were UK players last year who took the money, but their NBA careers will be short-lived. An extra year or two at UK could have made a difference for these guys. If I were as talented as these guys are and loved playing basketball, I would figure out any way that I could to use my time at UK to prepare me so that when I make that next step I am ready.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:52 pm to GetmorewithLes
quote:
. I honestly do not see how any of the guys on this UK team could fathom going NBA at the end of this season.
I have a couple friends that are diehard KY fans. Their thoughts paraphrased (mixed in with my bias):
If they don't bolt for the NBA now they will be buried on the depth charts next year.
Noel was gone before the knee injury for sure and is probably still a 1st rounder. A couple more might go if there is any chance to get on a team. There isn't five 1st rounders there like last year but these guys may have to stay 3 or 4 years if they don't leave now. Heaven forbid that!
If anyone thinks KY basketball is in a shambles then you should step back from the ledge. This year is a goner for sure. That is not what KY people expect so soon, but in this day in age of one and done's it can happen to anyone. They don't have a PG or good half court defense right now.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:57 pm to GetmorewithLes
Never said they shouldn't come back. But it's a very weak draft (Noel is still a Top 5 pick post-injury if that tells you anything) and Poythress, Goodwin, and even WCS are projected first rounders. I doubt any come back. Not when the NBA drafts on potential. And that is per guys like Chad Scott who knows what they're talking about when it comes to the Draft.
So I don't think the other UK fans are the ones that need to take a step back. You're getting your panties in a bundle like the other UK fans here don't want those guys to come back. Not at all the same thing.
So I don't think the other UK fans are the ones that need to take a step back. You're getting your panties in a bundle like the other UK fans here don't want those guys to come back. Not at all the same thing.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 3:57 pm to More Cowbell 1963
quote:
Noel was gone before the knee injury for sure and is probably still a 1st rounder.
He'll still be a top 3 or 4 pick.
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